Walmart Is Bringing Back a Controversial Fee That Could Increase Your Bill: What Shoppers Need To Know
Written by
Josephine Nesbit
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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Walmart is facing criticism after a company memo revealed that it’s planning to bring back a controversial fee it had paused during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the memo, which was obtained by Reuters, Walmart stated that it would resume charging customers who are part of the Walmart+ Assist program $6.99 if their online order doesn’t meet the $35 minimum, which could hurt the budgets of shoppers who depend on the program.
Some have alleged that this fee is a move linked to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but Walmart has denied this claim.
Here’s what shoppers need to know about this controversial fee.
Next, find out why cutting your Walmart+ membership might actually save you money.
Who Will Be Affected
Members of the Walmart+ Assist program — which is a discounted Walmart+ membership for recipients of government assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid — will have to pay the fee if their pickup or delivery grocery order is under $35.
Walmart+ Assist gives shoppers on government assistance a 50% discount on a standard Walmart+ membership, which reduces the cost from $98 to $49 per year.
According to Reuters, the minimum basket fee covers the cost of picking and packing an order from a store, which can be more expensive than shipping from a warehouse. It also doesn’t include delivery charges.
Walmart’s Response to Backlash
Some speculation has tied the decision to broader economic factors, including Trump’s tariffs. However, a company spokesperson told Mashable that the basket fee has nothing to do with tariffs.
And Walmart isn’t the only retailer that charges a minimum fee. Other major grocery and delivery services, including Amazon Fresh and Instacart, also impose similar charges for smaller orders to offset fulfillment costs.
Reuters pointed out that Walmart has been trying to cut costs by closing offices and asking staff to relocate to its headquarters or asking its suppliers to absorb price hikes caused by tariffs.
Walmart chief financial officer John David Rainey recently warned CNBC that the company is likely to start rolling out tariff-related price hikes toward the end of May and in June.
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Sources
- Reuters, “Walmart reinstates minimum basket fee for SNAP orders.”
- Mashable, “Walmart denies tariffs caused reinstatement of ‘basket fee’.”
- CNBC, “Walmart CFO says price hikes from tariffs could start later this month, as retailer beats on earnings.”
